Professional Bio
EDUCATION:
1976 – 1980 University of Illinois, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - B.S. with honors in Biology (summa cum laude). Research training with Dr. Sue Carter-Porges, Department of Neural and Behavioral Biology.
1980 – 1987 University of Illinois, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences - M.S., Ph.D. in Microbiology.
1980 – 1987 University of Illinois, School of Medicine, Urbana, Illinois - M.D. with honors.
1987 – 1990 Postdoctoral Fellow, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry.
FACULTY APPOINTMENTS:
1990 – 1991 Instructor and Fellow, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
1991 – 1997 Assistant Professor, Departments of Neurology and of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
1997 – 2000 Associate Professor, Departments of Neurology and of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
2000 – Present Associate Professor (Tenured in 2002), Departments of Neurobiology and Anatomy and of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
HONORS, AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS:
1977 – 1980 Edmund J. James Scholar
1980 Phi Kappa Phi (Honorary Society)
1980 B.S. with honors (summa cum laude); Bronze Tablet Recipient
1980 University of Illinois Life Sciences Predoctoral Fellowship
1982 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award
1984 Otto Saphir Memorial Award in Pathology
1984 Alpha Omega Alpha (Honorary Medical Society)
1986 University of Illinois College of Medicine Predoctoral Fellowship
1987 M.D. with honors; Valedictorian Address, Medical School Commencement
1987 Lange Book Award
1988 Proficiency in Pediatrics Book Award
1987 – 1989 NIH Postdoctoral Training Fellow in Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Rochester
1988 – 1991 Wilmot Cancer Research Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Rochester
1990 – 1991 New York State Health Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship for Diabetes Research
1996 – 1999 George W. Corner Dean's Teaching Scholar
1998 Graduate Student Society Faculty Teaching Award
Research Bio
RESEARCH: Neuroinflammation in CNS Injury and Alzheimer's Disease.
Twenty years ago evidence from epidemiological studies and investigations of human brain pathology suggested the hypothesis that innate immune activation of the brain, a term now referred to as neuroinflammation, might contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's and other brain diseases. Based on our pioneering work in the area of cyclooxygenase-2 and inflammation, we initiated a research program that focuses on understanding the role of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Studies conducted in the laboratory with human brain tissue, neuronal cell culture models and mouse models of acute injury and neurodegeneration have pointed to a prominent role for specific proinflammatory cytokines and bioactive prostaglandins in promoting neuroinflammation. Interestingly, our current work in Alzheimer's disease has revealed a potential protective role for neuroinflammation and has led to a focus on the influence of glial expressed cytokines and infiltrating peripheral cells on brain pathology, utilizing genetic and pharmacological approaches in a variety of mouse models. In complementary work, we also have active preclinical projects in the area of brain radiation injury, a critical problem for individuals receiving radiotherapy for brain tumors or bone marrow transplantation. The main goal is to understand the role of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in promoting injury and to determine whether therapeutic interventions targeting these processes can alleviate late radiation effects, including cognitive changes
RECENT PUBLICATIONS:
Cherry, J.D., B. Liu, J.L. Frost, C.A. Lemere, J.P. Williams, J.A. Olschowka and M.K. O'Banion. 2012. Galactic cosmic radiation leads to cognitive impairment and increased Ab plaque accumulation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. PLOS ONE 7:e53275. PMCID in process.
Dilmanian, F.A., A.L. Jenkins, J. Olschowka, Z. Zhong, J.Y. Park, N.R. Desnoyers, S. Sobotka, G.R. Fois, C.R. Messina, M. Morales, S.D. Hurley, L.A. Trojanczyk, S. Ahmad, N. Shahrabi, P.K. Coyle, A.G. Meek and M.K. O'Banion. 2012. X-ray microbeam irradiation of the contusion-injured rat spinal cord temporarily improves hind-limb function. Rad. Res. Dec 5 [Epub ahead of print]. PMCID in process.
Wu, M.D., A.M. Hein, M.J. Moravan, S.S. Shaftel, J.A. Olschowka and M.K. O'Banion. 2012. Adult murine hippocampal neurogenesis is inhibited by sustained IL-1? and not rescued by voluntary running. Brain Behav. Immun. 26:292-300. PMCID: PMC3258353
Matousek, S.B., S. Ghosh, S.S. Shaftel, S. Kyrkanides, J.A. Olschowka and M.K. O'Banion. 2012. Chronic IL-1?-mediated neuroinflammation mitigates amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease without inducing overt neurodegeneration. J. Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 7:156-164. PMCID: PMC3302720
Hein, A. M., T. J. Zarcone, D. B. Parfitt, S. B. Matousek, D. M. Carbonari, J. A. Olschowka and M. K. O'Banion. 2012. Behavioral, structural and molecular changes following long-term hippocampal IL-1? overexpression in transgenic mice. J. Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 7:145-155. PMCID: PMC3214690
Kyrkanides S., R.H. Tallents, J.N. Miller, M.E. Olschowka, R. Johnson, M. Yang, J.A. Olschowka, S.M. Brouxhon and M.K. O'Banion. 2011. Osteoarthritis accelerates and exacerbates Alzheimer's disease pathology in mice. J. Neuroinflammation 8:112. PMCID: PMC3179730
Moravan, M.J., D.A. Olschowka, J.P. Williams and M.K. O'Banion. 2011. Cranial irradiation leads to acute and persistent neuroinflammation with delayed increases in T-cell infiltration and CD11c expression in C57BL/6 mouse brain. Radiat. Res. 176:459-473. PMCID: PMC3191189.
